Get the Answers to Top Beauty Questions

This Spring marked the 20th anniversary of the Emmy-award-winning “The Golden Girls”’ retirement from television. Can you believe how women in their 50’s and 60’s today (think Sheryl Crow, who turned 50 this year, or Felicity Huffman and Kelly Preston, who will be 50 this year) are so vastly different from the portrayal of characters like Dorothy and Blanche just two decades ago?!

Today’s female baby boomers are considered to be in their prime! The average retirement age is 69, several years older than before. The divorce rate among those 50 and older nearly doubled from 1990 to 2009, helping make men and women 55 and older the largest group of online daters in theUS. To maintain this status in our society as being savvy, sophisticated and independent, female boomers want to look as good as they feel!

Fab Over 40 has the answers to the top beauty questions most commonly asked by women over 40 on how to stay more youthful looking. I went to the experts at P&G to bring you straightforward facts and answers using affordable products like COVERGIRL, Crest, Olay and more that won’t empty your pocket book.

SKIN

Why do we start to see fine lines and wrinkles and what can we do about them to make them less prominent?

Genetics as well as a multitude of natural changes contribute to the onset of fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Jeanine Downie, leading leading board-certified dermatologist and Director of Image Dermatology in Montclair, NJ indicates that the following changes compromise skin’s elasticity, firmness, structure and moisture thus contributing to areas of collapse and irregularity that ultimately manifest as fine lines and wrinkles:

Fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly estrogen, can reduce collagen production in your skin.

Cell regeneration and circulation also become sluggish as you age.

Elastin decreases and hyaluronic acid, a natural moisturizer in the skin, also declines.

She recommends using the Olay Professional Pro-X Intensive Wrinkle Protocol, a skin care set containing a three-part daily professional regimen that is clinically proven to be as effective as the leading prescription brand – for half the price when you include the cost of one dermatology visit.

External factorsplay a role too. The most obvious is UV exposure. Dr. Downie recommends applying sunscreen rain or shine, regardless of your ethnicity. “Make sure you apply at least an SPF 30 with broad-spectrum coverage. Whether you start using it at 15, 60 or even 70, you’re still doing better than not using it at all,” “says Downie. “I suggest keeping your sunscreen by your toothpaste and deodorant so you don’t forget to apply in the morning.”

What causes skin tone irregularities?

A major cause of uneven skin tone is excessive sun exposure explains Dr. Downie and if younger-looking skin is on your mind, skin tone should be too.

I’m over 45 and still have acne. Is this common and how can I combat?

According to theAmericanAcademyof Dermatology, over half of women in theU.S.between the ages of 25 and 58 have some form of acne. Dr. Downie indicates that the following changes can contribute to clogged pores and breakouts:

Slower skin turnover.

Hormonal fluctuations caused by menopause or stress.

Decrease in the skin’s elasticity.

She recommends using the Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System, which is clinically proven to cleanse 6X better than basic cleansing alone. This product gently exfoliates to help maximize the immediate hydrating effectiveness of anti-aging moisturizer usage.

HAIR

What are a few tips for coloring grey hair to give me the look that’s best for me?

The more gray hair you have, the lighter your overall hair will appear post-coloring therefore proper shade selection is key.

Marcy Cona, celebrity colorist and Clairol Global Creative Director suggests starting with a permanent hair color formula one to two shades lighter than your natural color, slowly re-introducing warmth and intensity back into your hair. Neutral color shades are ideal for gray coverage. If you have more than 25% grays, remember to:

Look for words like “natural” in the shade description, or simply choose shades without a tone descriptor such as a “medium brown” or “dark blonde”.

Stay away from shades that have an “ash” in the description.

SMILE

I’m over 45 years old and my teeth are no longer white. What causes the color change and how can I prevent it?

Tooth enamel can thin with aging, causing the yellow color of the dentin to show through, according to Veronica Sanchez, Ph.D, P&G Global Oral Care Scientist.

To remove stains on the outer layer of the tooth, Dr. Sanchez recommends Crest 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste, which brightens teeth after just one brushing and removes up to 90 percent of surface stains in just five days. Crest 3D White Whitestrips also help to remove stubborn stains that accumulate below the enamel surface.